System for producing ultraviolet radiations



July 10, 1934. w. 0.. PROUTY 1,965,947

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS Filed Aug. 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QWW y 4- w. o. PROUTY 1,965,947

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS Filed Aug. 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r ,ZFIVen/ r Ml/A: 0. A007? A f/orney July 10, 1934. w. o. PROUTY SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS Filed Aug. 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,Z'nren for 1 17/13 0. Praufy ZAM/ A #0)): ey

July 0, 1934. w. o. PROUTY 1,965,947

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS Filed Aug. 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zakenfor 46 47 MY/I'J 0. Praufy /iii'i Patented July 10, 1934 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS Willis 0. Prouty, Hermosa Beach, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Proutyline Products 00., Manhattan Beach, Calif., .a corporation of California Application August 17, 1931, Serial No. 557,601

3 Claims. (01. 250-34) This invention relates to a system for generinvention is best defined by the appended claims. ating or producing ultraviolet radiations. More Referring to the drawings:

particularly it relates to such a system that uti- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable lizes a luminous tube having a filling of a noble system embodying my invention; monatomic gas. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; 69

Such tubes have been described in several of Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the system; my prior applications, which may be identified Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a dental cabinet as follows: Therapeutic light, Ser. No. 448,128, type embodying my invention; filed April 28, 1930; Ultraviolet light source, Ser. Fig. 5 is a front view thereof; and

16 No. 524,649, filed March 23, 1931; and Hand sup- Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof. ported ultraviolet device, Ser. No. 529,698, filed In Figs. 1 and 2 I show an apparatus that is April 13, 1931. housed conveniently in a portable suitcase type In such tubes, a filling of neon, argon, helium of container. The container thus includes the or the like or mixtures thereof is used at a presmain case 11 and a hinged cover 12. The case 15 sure of the order of from four to twelve millime- 11 can have a handle 13 and can be provided with ters of mercury. To enhance the effect of the one or more locks 14. radiations, a drop or two of mercury can also be The case 11 has provisions for housing one or sealed into the tube, which is of course made from more radiating tube devices, such as 15, 16. This some material such as quartz that can pass the can be accomplished by forming appropriate de- 20 ultra-violet radiations. pressions 17, 18 in a shelf 19 near an edge of the Such tubes employ relatively high voltages of case 11. The shelf and depressions can be lined the order of a thousand volts, and small current with some soft fabric such as velvet. A retainer consumption. In my prior applications, I depiece 20 can be fastened to the inside of cover 12 scribe how it is possible to secure intense radiato engage these devices 15, 16 when the case is 25 tions having great therapeutic or germicidal value closed, and thus prevents jarring during transby a comparatively low current consumption, and portation. thereby keeping the tube so cool as to be readily Device 15 includes a casing having a window 21 manipulated by the operator without artificial through which is exposed a quartz tube 22 (Fig. 3) cooling. filled as before stated, at from about four to 30 It is one of the objects of my invention to protwelve millimeters of mercury, with a noble monvide a compact and portablepower supply system atomic gas, or a mixture thereof. The casing for such tubes. also serves as a convenient handle. The tube It is another object of my invention to provide furthermore, preferably has a bore no larger than a portable system that can be readily attached seven millimeters in diameter. As pointed out in '35 or detached with respect to a commercial altermy prior application, Serial No. 524,649, the small Ila-ting current pply. and that can be used interdiameter reduces very materially the absorption changeably with any one of anumber of different of the useful rays, because the radiations pass types of tubes. In this way, for example, a genthrough only a narrow layer of intervening gas eral treatment can be given by a tube that emits before reaching the exterior of the tube. Fur- 40 the radiations over a comparatively large area; thermore, full brilliance is obtained with a curor alternatively, an orificial unit can be used, rent flow of thirty milliamperes, or not more than which can'be readily applied to any of the various fifty milliamperes, so that the tube stays cool. cavities or orifices of the body, such as in the The casing 15 can thus be handled without any t i s, mouth, or ears. artificial cooling. This casing of course is ap- 45 My invention possesses many other advanpropriately insulated from the terminals of tube tages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of Device 16 has the same general character- Several embod m ts of y invention. For this istics. The tube 23 however is not covered by the P p I have Shown a few forms in the drawcasing but is exposed so that it may be inserted 5o s ac p a d forming part of the presinto a cavity or orifice. This device can be built ent specification. I shall now proceed to describe in a rd n e with th specifications in my theseforms in detail, which illustrate the general pending application, Serial No. 529,698. In genprinciples of my invention; but it is to be undereral, it comprises an inner and an outer tube, and stood that this detailed description is not to be a pair of electrodes extending respectively into 55 taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my the inner tube and into the annular space between the tubes. This device 16 can also be provided with prongs such as 24 to lead current to the gas column.

By providing small tubes and the proper electromotive forces, the ultraviolet radiations can be made intense at and neighboring the most eflective frequencies for germicidal purposes. Thus an intense radiation is obtained by my device in the region of the light spectrum at and near 2536 Angstrom units; and the radiations are generally within the limits of from 3100 Angstrom units down to about 1800 Angstrom units.

I shall now describe how either of the devices 15, 16 can be energized by means of apparatus enclosed in the case 11. Thus adjacent the rear of this case, a compartment 26 is formed that houses a step-up constant current transformer 25 (Fig. 3). The primary winding 26' of this transformer is adapted to be detachably connected to any light socket or the like, as by a flexible twin lead 2'7. This lead carries the usual plug 28 and can be made as long as convenient. It enters into the vertical wall of compartment 26, through an insulation bushing 29. The secondary winding 30 of the transformer 25 can be grounded, as shown at 31 (Fig. 3) and is connected as by a heavily insulated twin conductor cable 32, to a twin receptacle 33. This cable extends through the vertical wall of compartment 26. The receptacle 33 is arranged to accommodate the prongs such as 24,'which are associated with devices 15, 16. In this way, either device can be energized as desired.

In order to ensure against any accidental improper grounding by any of the metal portions of the devices 15, 16, one of the prongs 24 can be grounded to these metal parts and is so arranged as to connect always to the grounded lead 34 (Fig. 3). This can be accomplished by making the two prongs of different sizes or forms, so that they can enter corresponding differently formed socket portions in receptacle 33, and can never enter these sockets in any other order.

It is thus seen that I have provided a simple detachable connection to any of a number of devices, any of which can be used at will.

Preferably the milliampere consumption in the tube should be indicated. This can be accomplished by including a milliammeter 35 in the secondary circuit. This milliammeter can be set into the top wall of compartment 26. The complete secondary circuit can now be traced. It includes the coil 30, ammeter 35, one socket of receptacle 33, 9. prong on either device 15, 16, the quartz tube 22 or 23, the other prong, receptacle 33, lead 34, back to the other side of coil 30.

In order to time the period of exposure automatically, a time switch 36 (Fig. 3) can be included in the primary circuit. This time switch can be housed in compartment 26, with control levers projecting through for controlling it and for setting it. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a slotted plate 37 can be afiixed to the top wall of the compartment 26. Through the slots in this plate can project a setting lever 38 and a starting lever 39. Graduations 40 onthe plate cooperate with a mark 41 on lever 38 to indicate the period that the switch will stay closed. Lever 39 winds up a clockwork mechanism and closes a switch by being pulled to the right,-and this also starts the timing function. Since such time switches are now well-known. further description is unnecessary except to state that after the set period of operation, lever 39 is released and returns to the left hand position shown.

It is advisable to reduce the current flow when the orificial device 16 is used, as the tube portion 23 is intended to beplaced in contact or nearly so with the tissues treated, and must be therefore kept still cooler than when full energization is used. The current consumption can be regulated by a high-low switch 42, (Fig. 3) also .enclosed in compartment 26. This switch controls the number of turns active on the primarycoil 26, the lower number being used when device 16 is in circuit. A hand lever 43 for controlling this switch extends out of the compartment 26.

The primary circuit can now be traced. From plug 28, the circuit includes switch 42. coil 26, time switch 36, to plug 28. When the levers 38, 39 are properly set, and device 15 or 16 properly plugged in, and with plug 28 in operative relation with an appropriate commercial source, the device 15 or 16 is rendered active and stays active until switch 36 operates.

The leads 2'7, 32 and devices 15, 16 can all be accommodated in case 11, and it can be closed and locked for ready transportation.

It is not necessary that the elements of the system be incorporated in a suit case type of container. Thus for example, for dental work, a wall casing such as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 can be used.

In this case, the container 44 has a closed central portion 45 in which the transformer 25, time switch 36, the regulating switch 42, and ammeter 35 can be housed. This container can be hung on a wall in any appropriate location. Sockets 46, 4'? can be provided in the bottom for connection respectively to a commercial source and to a heavy insulated cable such as 32. These connections are clearly shown in Fig. 5.

At each side of the closed portion 45 is a further compartment such as 48 (Fig. 4) that can be closed by a hinged door 49. When closed, these doors with compartment 45 present a pleasing ornamental appearance. On the vertical side of the compartment 48 one or more spring clips such as 50 can be provided for holding devices such as 15 or 16, as well as the detachable leads to be used therewith. The system has the same wiring as disclosed in Fig. 3 and operates in the same way.

I claim:

1. In an ultraviolet ray apparatus, a portable container having a closed compartment, a step-up transformer in said compartment, said transformer havinga primary and a secondary winding, conductors leading from the primary winding, and through the wall of the compartment into the container, a detachable connector connected to the conductors for connecting the primary winding to a commercial alternating current source, a time switch in the compartment and in circuit with the primary winding, said time switch having a control member for starting it extending outside the compartment, as well as a time setting member also extending out of the compartment, high potential leads connected to the secondary winding and extending through the wall of the compartment into the container, a separable connection carried by said high potential leads, and a luminous tube device capable of being supported in the container and arranged to be optionally connected to the separable connection of the high potential leads, said device including a quartz tube, and a handle for the tube, said tube having a filling of one or more noble monatomic gases, said device also having means for leading the high potential current to the column of gas in the tube, the section of the tube being such that radiations in the ultra violet spectrum are generated thereby which are pronounced between 1800 and 3100 Angstrom units and have a maximum effect at and neighboring 2536 Angstrom units.

2. In an ultraviolet ray apparatus, a container having a closed compartment, a step-up transformer in said compartment, said transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, conductors leading from the primary winding, a detachable connector connected to the conductors for connecting the primary winding to a comof being supported in the container and to be separably connected to the separable connection of said high potential leads, said device including a quartz tube, and a handle for the tube.

3. In' an ultraviolet ray apparatus, a container, a step-up transformer therein, said transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, conductors leading from the primary winding, a detachable connector connected to the conductors for connecting the primary winding to a com mercial alternating current source, a time switch in the container and in circuit with the primary winding, high potential leads connected to the secondary winding, a separable connection carried by said high potential leads, and a luminous tube device capable of being supported in the container and arranged to'be optionally connected to the separable connection of the high potential leads, said device including aquartz tube and a handle for the tube.

WILLIS O. PROUTY. 

